Typewriting machine



Nov. 20 i923, 11,474,839 c. w. MARSH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed N V- 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 20, 1923.

c. w. MARSH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 oooooooooooooooooo INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 2Q, 1923.

.UNHTED STATES CLIFFORD W. MARSH, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

Application filed November 8, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD W. MARSH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Typewriting Machines, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to typewritinlg machines and particularly to the carriage feeding mechanism therefor. It has for an object to provide means for disconnecting the tension mechanism from the carriage while said carriage is being moved from the posi tion it occupies after a line has been written to a position for starting another line, so that during this movement the operator is notrequired to overcome the tension of this mechanism, but is required to use only sufiicient force to move the weight of the 20 carriage and the elements carried thereby.

It is another object of the invention to provide means to engage and hold a member of the tension mechanism when it is disconnected from the carriage to prevent unwinding of this mechanism.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a carriage feeding device in which the means for reciprocating the carriage moves always in the same direction.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a carriage feed mechanism of this type in which there is automatic means for rewinding the tension means and maintainin a substantially constant tension thereon.

lVith the foregoing and other objeits in view I have devised the improved mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which, n i Fig. 1 is a plan view of a rear portion of a typewriter showing one form of my invention applied thereto with the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the reciprocating element is connected with the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a plan View similar to Fig. 1 but showing one-half only of the device, the elements being in the position they occupy when the reciprocatinfg element is disconnected from the feeding mechanism.

50 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a section of the feeding band. V

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the means Serial No. 513,666.

for preventing movement of the band when the reciprocating element is disconnected therefrom, said means in the figure being shown disconnected from the band.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. a showing the holding means in the position it occupies when connected with the band, and

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary sectional view of the means for moving the band taken on substantially the line 66 of Fig. 1.

The frame of the typewriter is represented by the reference numeral 10 carrying the usual type bars and keys (not shown), the typewriter ribbon being indicated at 11. Secured to the rear of the frame 10 are sup porting brackets 12 carrying front and rear parallel rails 13 and 14, respectively, upon which the reciprocating element is mounted to reciprocate on rollers 15. This recipro' eatingelement comprises end rails 16, and front and rear rails 17 and 18, respectively, connected at their ends to the rails 16 so that the reciprocating element in the device illustrated comprises a rectangular frame, as shown. This frame is adapted to receive a carrier or carriage which may either correspond to the standard carriage of a. typewriter upon which the platen is mounted, or a carrier comprising, as a unit, a platen, worksheets, and transfer material,

substantially as shown in my copending application Serial No. 451,611, filed March 21, 1921. As this removable carriage or carrier forms no part of my present invention, I have not illustrated the same in this application. As disclosed in said copending application, the escapement mechanism, represented by reference numeral 19, is connected with a rack 20 on the reciprocating frame to control the feeding movement thereof in the ordinary manner. The escapement mechanism is as usual manually operable to release the reciprocating element by means of an escapement release bar 21, operable by the finger levers 22 whenever it is desired to move the reciprocating element by hand. The travel of the reciprocating element in opposite directions is limited by engagement of a lug 23 carried thereby with studs 2e on the rail 13.

Extending between the end rails 16 and secured thereto, is a bar 25 upon which is mounted means for connecting thereciproeating element with the feeding and tension mechanisms. This feeding and tension mechanism, in the embodiment shown, comprises an endless band 26, preferably of metal, which is provided throughout its extent with openings or perforations 27, Fig. 2, and is mounted on a' driving drum or pulley! 28 and an idler drum or pulley 29, the drum 28 being provided with projecting lugs 30 adapted toenter the perforations in the band to positively move the band when the drum is rotated The drum 29 is mounted in movable bearings which are moved awayfrom the drum 28 by mearis of suitable springs 31 to maintain the band taut. I j p Drivingmeans" are provided ior moving the band always in the sa-iiie direction and alsomaintaining a constant tension thereon. supporting bracket 32 is carried by one of the brackets 12 and the'shaft 33 carrying thedrum' 28 is mounted to rotate in a bearin; 34 in thisbracket, Also mounted on this shaft and secured sj'o'as to turn therewith by any suitable means, Such as a pin 35,is a disc36. Provided on one side thereof adjacent its periphery are literally extending studs or pins 37. The drum 28 is mounted to turn on the sha'ft'33and this drum, the disc 36 and the bearing 34, are retained in proper relative positions by means of col lars 38 seeured on the shaft by any suitable means, such as pins 39. As stated above the drum 28 is mounted" so that it may turn on the shaft 33, but it is connected therewith means of a convolute' sprin s 40, one end of this spring being secured to the shaft 33 at 41 and the other end secured to the drum at It will, therefore, be apparentihat if the shaft 33 is held stationary, the tendenc'y of the spring to unwind will tend to rotate the drum 28, and transmit the tension of the spring to the band 26.

Means is provided for automatically winding this spring 40 and maintaining a substantially constant tension thereon and, therefore, also on the band 26. Mounted out-he bracket 32 is a suitable motor, preferably a small electric motor, constantly rotating a crank element 43, the casing of the motor being represented by numeral 44. Pivoted to the crank 43 is a pawl 45 which is pro Vided at its free end with an inclined edge 46and a. hook 47 adjacent said incline. A spring 48 is mountedon the casing and tends to hold the pawl 45 in engagement with the pin s or studs 37 on the disc 36. Alsopivoted to the of the bracket at 49 a. bell crank one arm of which is pivoted to a,second pawl 51 having an inclined. edge 52an d hook 53 at its free end. Thispawl is also ,held engagement with studs or pins 37by .means of spring 54. To the other arm of the bell masts connected a spring 55, and this spring tends to turn the bell crank on its pivot topull on the pawl 51, a stop pin 56 being provided to limit this movement. be other end of the spring is connected to any suitable means for varying the tension of the spring, such as a pivoted lever 57, for which is provided stops 58 to hold it; in either one of difin Fig. 1, and asthe' di'sc 36" is] prevented from moving in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in this figure', by means of the pawl 51. the book of pawl 45 will slide by and engagethe next adjacent pin 37. Thus it will be evident that the disc 36'is' rotated in a clockwise directio-n', viewed in this figure, by a step s esmofvemem and the spring 40 will be wound thereby; Then this spring has been wound to such. an estent that its tension exceeds that of spring 55, then on movement of the pawl 45 to the right as the crank 43 rotates, the pull of this spring 40 on the pawl 51 will stretch spring Y55, and the hook on the'pawl 45 cannot slide by the next adjacent pin 37hto engaf 'e the The eifect of this is thatJso long as the tension of tile spring 40 is] in of spring 55, the disc 36will oseillate'backand forth on each revolution of the crank 43., and this action will be continued until the band 26 has been allowed to move snfiiciently to unwind spring 40 to such an extent that its tension is less than that ofthe s n'ing hen this condition occurs the spring'40 is again wound by the action of the pawl 45. It will thus be'apparent that the tension onthe band 26 is automatically maintained substantially constant, and that this tension may be varied by varying the tension of the spring 55'.

The means for connecting and disconnect ing tlie reciprocating element to'and from the band 26 will now be described.

Mounted in brackets 59' secured; to braces of the brackets 12 below the reciprocating carriage, is mounted a shaft 60' towhich is secured, so as m1mania-extant, two. sub stantially vertically e 'ritending spaced levers 61; adapted to swing between a pair of stops 62 on the brackets 12, and which are, connected at their upper endsby abar 63' carrying adjacent one'end thereof a pin 64 ieo projecting at substantially right angles to the band 26, this pin being adapted to enter any one of the perforations in the band when the reciprocating element or carriage is disconnected therefrom, and to hold the band against movement. Suitable springs 60 are provided tending to press the free end of these levers toward the band 26 and to hold the pin 64: in a perforation in the band. Pivotally mounted at 65 on the bar 25 of the carriage or reciprocating element. is a lever 66 provided with a. projection 67 adapted to enter in any one of the perforations in the band 26, and a suit-able spring 68 tends to press this end toward the. band and retain this projection in an opening therein. Fulcrumed on a bracket 69, secured to the reciprocating element, preferably the end rail 16, is a second lever 70, its pivotal point being indicated at 71. One arm of this lever is adapted to press against the curved end 72 of lever 66, and on the other arm is mounted a disc or plate 73 adapted to be engaged by the operator to swing the lever on its pivot. Also mounted upon the bar 25 is a sprocket 74: provided with teeth 75 to mesh with the perforations in the band 26, this sprocket rotating on a pivot 76. A spring 7 7 is se cured to the bar 25 and is provided at its free end with a roller 78 riding over the teeth 75 on the sprocket 7 4:.

The operation of this device is as follows:

After a line has been written the carriage being fed to the left or downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, the band 26 moving in the direction of the arrows, the carriage is moved to the right or upwardly, as viewed inFig. l, by the operator pressing on the plate 73. This turns the lever counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, and the lever 66 clockwise towithdraw the projection 67 from engagement with the perforation in the band 26, and at the same time it allows the bar 63 to rn' ovetoward the band under the action of the spring 60 and the pin 64 to enter a perforation in the band. The lengths of the projections 67 and 64 are 'soproportioned that the pin 64: must enter a perforation in the band 26 before the projection 67 is withdrawn from its perforation. This arrangement prevents the carriage or reciprocating element being disconnected from the band until the holding means, represented by the pin 6st and the levers supporting the same, has been connected with the band. This holding means prevents movement of the band and unwinding of the spring 40 when the reciprocating element is disconnected therefrom. It will be apparent that when the projection 67 is withdrawn from engagement with the band, the carriage or reciprocating element is free to be moved to the right, or up warclly, as viewed in Fig. 1, to a position for the beginning of the next line. During this free movement of the carriage or reciprocating element the sprocket 7 L rotates, and when the end of the free movement is reached, the action of the spring 77 and roll 78, as it tends to seat between two teeth 75, will position the reciprocating element or carriage so that the projection 67 will be in line with a perforation 27 in the band 26, and as the operator removes her hand from the plate 73 this projection will be inserted in the band by the action of the spring 68. As) the spring 68 is stronger than the springs 60' the end of the projection '67 presses against the bar 63 and withdraws the pin 64 of the holding mechanism from the band, so that now the band is free to move under the action of the spring 40 and to feed the carriage or carriage backwardly to write the next line,

it is disconnected from the feeding or ten sion mechanism, and that the operator in moving the carriage backwardly is not required to shift the same against the tension of the feeding mechanism, but that the carriage is free to move independently thereof, and the operator has to overcome only the friction of the supporting means for the carriage. This mechanism is especially valuable in use for machines having a comparatively heavy carriage which requires greater tension on the feeding mechanism to properly feed the same in rapid operation.

It will further be apparent that this connecting and disconnecting means. is very simple in construction and, therefore, is not liable to be easily gotten out of order.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, What I claim is:

l. The combination in a typewriter hav ing a tension mechanism and a reciprocating element, of meansto connect said element and tension mechanism for movement of A said element in one direction, and means to disconnect the same to allow the free movement of said element in the opposite direction.

2. The combination in a typewriter having a tension mechanism and a reciprocating element, of means to connect said element and tension mechanism for move ment ofsaid element in one direction, means to disconnect the same to allow the free movement of said element in theopposite direction, and: automatic" means" to put tension on saidtensionme'chanism.

3; The combination in a typewriter havin'ga tension mechanism and arecip rocating element, of means to connect said element an'd tension mechanisnr for movement of said elementin one direction, means to disconnect the same to allow the free movement of said element in the" opposite direction; and means to prevent movement of" the tension mechanism when the said element is disconnected therefrom.

4i The combination in a typewriter having a feeding device and a reciprocating element, of means toiconne'ct said element and feeding device for movement of said element in one direction, means to disconnect the s'ameto'allow free movement of said element in the opposite direction, and means controlled by said disconnecting means for preventing feeding movement of said device when said element is dis connected therefrom. V

5. The combination in a: typewriter having a tension'mechanis'mand a reciprocating element, of means to" connect said= element andtensionjmechanism for movement of said element in one direction, means to disconnect the same to allow the free movement of said element in the opposite direction, and means controlledby said" disconnecting meansfor preventing movement of said tension mechanism when said element is disconnected therefrom.

6. Thecombination in a typewriter, of a reciprocatingelement, a feeding mechanism comprising a perforatedband and means for moving theband, means'adapted to enter one of said perforations to connect said element and the band for movement of said element in one directioir, and means for withdrawing said means from said perforation to allow free movementof said element in the opposite direction. 7 V

7 The combination in typewriter, of a reciprocating olement, a feeding mechanism comprising an endless band and means for moving said band, means adapted to" connect the element and the band for movement of said element in onedirection, and means for disconnecting the element from the band to allow free movement/of the element in the opposite direction;

8; The combination 'in" a typewriter, of a reciprocating element, a feeding mechanism comprising a perforated endless band and means for moving said band means carried by said element adapted to enter a perfora tionin-th'e band to connect the element and the band for movement of said element in one direction, and means for removingsai-d latter means from the perforation to allow 9; .The combination'in atypewriter, of a reciprocating element, a feeding mechanism comprising a perforated handand means for moving the'band, means carriedby the element adapted to enter one of the perforations to'connect said element and the band for movement of said element in oncdirection, means for withdrawing said latter means from said perforation to allow free movement of said element in the" opposite direction, and means controlled by said dis connecting means to' engage the band and prevent movement thereof when said element is disconnected therefrom.

10. The combination in'a typewriten of a reciprocating element,- a feeding mechanism comprising a perforated endless band and means for moving said band, means carried by said element adapted to enter a perforation'intheband to connect the element and band for movement'ofsaid elementin one direction, means for removing said latter means from the perforation to allow free movement of the element in the opposite direction, and means controlled by the removing means adapted' to enter a perforation and prevent movement of the band' when the element is disconnected therefrom;

11. The combination in a typewriter having a tension mechanism and a reciprocating element, of means. to connect said element and tensionmechanismfor movementoffsaid element in one direction, means to disconnect'the' same to allow"tlie freemovement of said element in the opposite direction, means to prevent'movement of the tension mechanism when the said element is disconnected therefrom, and automatic'mean's for maintaining a substantially constant tension on said tension mechanism! 1-2.- The combination in a typewriter having a tension mechanism and reciprocating element, of means to connect said element and tension mechanism for movement of said element in one direction, means to disconmet the same to allow the free movement of said element in the opposite direction, means controlled by said disconnecting means for preventing movement of said tension mechanism when said element is disconnected therefrom, and automatic means for maintaining a substantially constant tension on said tension mechanism. 7

13'. The combination in a typewritenof a reciprocating element, a feeding mechanism comprising an endless band and tension mechanism for moving said band, means adapted to conneetthe element and the band for movement of said element in'one direction,- means for: disconnecting the element from the band to allow free movement of the element in'the opposite direction, and automatic means for maintaining a substantially constant tension on said tension mechanism. 14;; The combination in a typewritem of a reciprocating e1ement,'a feeding mechanism comprising a perforated band and tension mechanism for moving said band, means adapted to enter one of said perforations to connect said element and the band for movement of said element in one direction, means for Withdrawing said means from the perforation to allow free movement of the element in the opposite direction, and means for maintaining a substantially constant ten- 10 sion on said tension mechanism.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CLIFFORD W. MARSH. 

